Syndicators Closing Deals as NATPE Nears

‘Fifth Grader' renewed for season two; ‘Nancy Grace' cleared in 90% of U.S.

By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/19/2010 4:57:47 PM

Nearing the annual NATPE convention in Las Vegas, syndicators are locking down deals for fall.

Twentieth Television has renewed Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader for a second season.

Tribune, Fox and Local TV all picked the show back up for fall, giving it clearances in the top five markets and beyond.

Fifth Grader also airs in primetime on Fox-owned MyNetworkTV, an arrangement that the network likes, and on cable network CMT. That multiplatform run provides the show with solid financials.

Meanwhile, CBS Television Distribution has cleared its Swift Justice with Nancy Grace in more than 90% of the country for fall. Stations from the following groups are the latest to sign on for two years: Freedom Communications, Mission Broadcasting, Grant Communications, New Vision Group, Communications Corp. of America, Cordillera Communications and Gray Television, Inc. Swift Justice has been cleared in all top 50 markets, says Joe DiSalvo, CTD's president of sales.

Swift Justice is the only new first-run show from a major syndicator to be a firm go for fall, although Litton Entertainment also has secured key clearances for its resurrection of Judge Karen's Court, which is a new version of the court show distributed by Sony two years ago. Swift Justice is cleared on stations for all-barter in two year deals. The other show that has a definite slot next fall is NBC Universal's off-Bravo Real Housewives, which also was cleared in all-barter deals.